Partnership strategies you’ll learn at Convention

No two partnerships are the same, nor should they be, and for me this is one of the best things about working in corporate partnerships. There are however some key strategies which are clearly evident in the most successful partnerships out there and which delegates will have the chance to discuss and find out more about at this year’s Fundraising Convention.

Having attended Convention as a delegate, a speaker and for the last two years as a member of the Convention board, I love hearing speakers and meeting people from other charities and the corporate sector. I never fail to come away feeling inspired, motivated to challenge the normal way of working and with new ideas to help shape partnership strategies.

We have a great line up at this year’s Convention with speakers from a range of charities (small and large and across a range of causes) plus experienced professionals from the corporate world which promise to make 2018 one of the most exciting partnerships tracks we’ve ever had.

Some of the partnership strategies that you’ll learn at Convention this year include:

New business

With so many companies out there, deciding which ones are the best fit for your charity can seem like a daunting task. Girlguiding is running a session about how it worked with colleagues to really understand the needs of the charity, and used that to focus their new business efforts on partnerships that will help to deliver the charity's mission.

If you were at Convention last year, you’ll be pleased to know that Jonathan Andrew’s from Remarkable Partnerships is returning to run a dynamic session which challenges charities to put the company at the heart of their proposals and create a compelling proposition that can’t be ignored.

Commercial partnerships

Pampers and Unicef, Age UK and Innocent, many people often reference commercial partnerships as some of their favourite and most admired in the sector; so it’s no surprise that this is a growing area of focus for many charities. Head to the Wednesday afternoon session (and submit your questions in advance) to hear real life case studies which will help you think creatively about how you can leverage your assets to attract commercial partners.

Importance of impact (not to be confused with output)

While it is good and important to report on the hours of care funded or the number of people supported as a result of your partnership, companies are increasingly looking to partner with a charity that can clearly demonstrate what that means for their beneficiaries. Hear from Depaul and Deloitte as well as CLIC Sargent and Morrisons, HSBC and End Youth Homelessness, on partnerships based around a clear strategic fit with impact, not just income, at the heart of their objectives

Collaboration

Competition for the biggest national partnerships has never been tougher but joining forces with another charity can help strengthen your chances and help you to create a bigger impact that meets more of the partnership criteria of the company in question. Age UK and Barnardos are two charities who have done just that and are now in partnership with Santander UK. They will share how they have made this one of banks most successful relationships to date and leave you feeling empowered to think more openly about future opportunities.

Don’t miss…

My must see corporate partnerships session at convention this year has to be Perfect Pitch (run on both Tuesday and Wednesday). It is a firm favourite at convention and I have gotten many a tip from watching charities pitch on behalf of each other, which has certainly helped me win new business.